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Letters Patent No'. 82,379, dated' September 22, 1868A; 'ntedated September 16, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN GONNEGTING-RODS.

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Specitication of an Improved Extension-Device for Connecting-Rods, invented b v EDWARD BROWNpo'f the city of New York. v i v My invention consists in the combination,`with the right and left-handed screw extension-rod, as commonly used for adjusting the length ot' connecting-rods, particularly in power-presses, of a supplemental washer or ring, having on its side a spiral incline, which acts against a similar incl-ine, in the reverse direction, ou the extension-rod itself, or on a suitable washer or ring, whereby the nice adjustment of the connecting-rod to the exact lengths which may be required is tirmly and rigidly secured without serious strain upon the screw, as' hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a connecting-rod having my improved device applied to it.

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section of thc same. I

v Figure 3 is a side elevation ofthe same, the parts being separated, and the divided washer being removed'.

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the line :u w, iig. 2. I

A and B are the two ends of the connecting-rod. They are caused to recede from or approach each other, thus shortening o r lengthening the said connection-rod by means of the screw-rod C, which has a right-hand screw working in the end, A, of the said connecting-rod, and a left-hand screw working in the other end, B. The ring or washer D, fig. 4, being keyed on the said screw-rod C, by the key or projection a, loosely, so thatit is free to slide up and down, but not to turn around, furnishes a means of turning the rod C in' either direcv tion, and thereby lengthening or shortening the connecting-rod. i v

E is a, washer, which fits loosely on the screw-rod C, being free to turn thereon. It is formed into a spiral inclined plane, b, at ttige top, which inclined plane bears against n. similar spiral inclined plane, c, inclined in the opposite direction, on the end, A, of the connecting-rod.

This mode of adjustment is intended to secure the minute adjustment of the connecting-rod to the exact length required, in such a manner as to give stiffness to the rod, and relieve the screw from undue strain, while, at the same time, this object is secured in connection with the most nice and correct adjdstment that can be desired. v j

It is obvious that the'inclines b and c must be very dat to prevent their slipping on each other, and, consequeutly, their range of' adjustment is necessarily quite limited.I It', however, it becomes necessary to lengthen the rod beyond the range oi' these inclines, split washers, F F, of nearly sulicient thickness to give the required adjustment,may be introduced, in the manner represented in g. 1, and the close adjustment secured, as before described, 'by means of the ineliues b and c. i

In operating this device, the connecting-rod is lengthened out to almost a suicieut distance by turning the screw-rod C to the right, and split or divided washers are then inserted between the end, B, of the connectingrod and the washer D. Then, by gradually turning the screw-rod C to the right, and following it up by turning the washer E and incline b to the left, the exact length may be secured, even to the most minute degree of adjustment. The inclines b and c may be formed on the upper surface of the washer D, and the lower surface -of the washer E, and an equally good result obtained. l

It will be seen, by an examination of this construction, that this device throws the strain of a thrusting force applied to the connecting-rod .almost entirely upon the washers, and thus relieves the adjusting-screw from l the pressure resulting from such force, thereby giving very great additional power of resistance, in this respect,

to the connecting-rod.

The peculiar value of this system or mode of'adjustment will -readily be seen in the case of power-presses, where the most minute variation in the length of the connecting-rod is followed by very perceptible results, either for good or evil, as the case may be; and au easy, cheap, and reliable means of. minute adjustment for Such purposes,'which would take the place or remedy the imperfections of the present bungling system, in which the split or divided washers are entirely relied on, has long been desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- The combination, with the double screw-rod-G, of the two inclines b and c, whether the said incliues be placed on the washer E and the end ofthe connecting-rod A, or on the two washers D aud E, substantially as herein described. V

A EDWARD BROWN. Witnesses il. JAMES WESTON, Tecs. P. How. 

